2017-10-05_PERMIT FILE - M2017049 (41)

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accessories will be determined. The Quarry Manager and the manager of the third party blasting contractor will schedule the blast for an appropriate date and time. Blasting will occur between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, not to exceed a maximum of 3 blasts per week. The Quarry Manager will make every effort to schedule all blasts Monday through Friday, however a weekend blast may be necessary from time to time to keep the quarry producing as necessary. Transportation of Explosives— The transportation of explosives to and from the Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry will be handled by the same licensed third party blasting contractor conducting the blasting on site. On the day of the scheduled blast, the pre-determined amount of bulk explosives and blasting accessories will be transported to Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry in vehicles that are specifically designed and equipped to carry explosives from site to site. After a blast is loaded and shot, any product not consumed in the day's blast are inventoried, volumes of bulk explosives and accessories used and unused will be documented, and surplus materials are transported back to the secure location in the same vehicles used to transport the explosive materials to Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry. Loading of Explosives— On the day of a scheduled blast, the third parry blast crews and trucks arrive at Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry with bulk explosives and blasting accessories. • A NONEL blasting cap and cast booster are placed into each hole with the down hole lead line being secured at the collar or top of the hole. • With the cap and booster securely in the hole, the bulk explosives are loaded using the following techniques based on hole condition. o If the hole is wet, the end of a hose, approximately 100 feet long, is placed at the bottom of the hole and a 100 % emulsion product is pumped in from the bottom displacing the water in the hole. o If the holes are not directly accessible by the bulk explosive blasting truck, the hose is moved from hole to hole. At this point, if the holes are dry,the 100 % straight emulsion product is loaded from the top of the hole. If the holes are wet the same procedure is followed as noted above. o If the holes are dry and the truck can access them, an emulsion and ANFO blend will be used. The emulsion/ANFO blend is loaded into the top of the hole directly from the blasting truck. • By design the bulk explosive will not fully fill the blast hole. The remaining open portion of each hole will be filled with stemming (crushed stone) to contain the explosive. • The final step to the loading procedure is to connect each of the down hole lead lines together according to the blast timing design to provide a sequential blast. Figure 2 below shows how a typical drill hole is loaded with explosives prior blasting.